Thursday, February 07, 2013

Mr. Shane Gibson. Maybe they won't pay City Markets obligation to their former employees?

Or maybe they will.

In the Nassau Guardian of Wednesday, February 6, 2013, Mr. Shane Gibson (PLP), Minister of Labour, is quoted as saying the former employees of City Market sent the government a proposal to pay 50% of the mandated separation money owed to them and it's under consideration. Then in the next breath stated it would be a bad precedent to set if the Government were to pay the severance.

Obviously it's a difficult spot for everyone involved. The owners, and former associates alike, but governments role in all this is no more than the rule maker. They cannot be the lawmaker, judge and jury. That's why the Constitution has a court system entrenched to enforce the rules.

Sure the inclination of many in the political class is to attempt to make every side of this think they will solve the matter to get their votes, but it's not only a dangerous precedent for the government to pay what is due by the private sector, it would seem to negate the validity of the law and the requirement for other employers to pay severance in the future.